Farmers Seeking Tax Credit For Food Donations

New York's farmers give millions of pounds of apples, squash, melons and other agricultural products to the state's food banks every year. Now some of those farmers are hoping to get some credit — a tax credit.

Legislation awaiting action by Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo would offer farmers a tax break of up to $5,000 a year for donations to the food banks that serve the state's food pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters.

Farmers say the tax credit would help pay for harvesting and transporting the food that gets donated — and encourage more farmers to donate when they have a surplus yield.

Food bank directors support the measure, which they say would help to ensure struggling New Yorkers have access to healthy fresh fruits and vegetables.